Chapter 80: THE SUICIDAL SENTINEL

VIVIAN

Vivian practically ran out of the building.

The moment she was far enough away, she stopped and bent over, panting.

She wiped the sweat from her forehead and quickly looked around.

No one was watching.

Vivian heaved a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness..."

She straightened and slapped her forehead.

"Why did I reject his offer?"

She groaned. "He said he could help me get a better position!"

She hit her head again. "So dumb!"

She had been so focused on escaping Alex’s embarrassing questions that she had forgotten about the military rank.

Then she suddenly frowned. "Wait..."

Vivian looked back toward the building. "What was our military doctor doing there?"

Her expression became serious. "Is Vega really sick?"

She didn’t have time to think about it for long.

Vivian climbed into the small military vehicle waiting outside.

The military driver immediately started the engine and drove her back toward the main base.

When Vivian arrived, the atmosphere was completely different from when she left.

The recruits who had gone on the mission were already returning.

Several were sitting outside the medical tents while healers treated their wounds.

Some had bandages wrapped around their heads. Others had broken arms or bloodied uniforms.

A few were being carried into the medical tents.

Vivian slowed down.

That bad?

She glanced around before heading toward the commander’s tent.

Before she reached it, she heard shouting from inside. "I said we shouldn’t have gone there!"

A cup was thrown across the tent.

"Now we’ve lost ten students!"

Another commander shouted back. "I already told you the intelligence was wrong! We shouldn’t believe information from Orcs. Everyone knows they aren’t trustworthy!"

"What is the point of saying that now?! We have to take all chances to end the mission early. You know those transmigrators are here. What if they attack us any minute.?"

The first commander slammed his hand against the table.

"We have lost ten students! Who cares about them now. If they come, my Mecha students will fight."

The room went silent for a moment.

Then another voice spoke. "And we still haven’t found Ina Federick."

Vivian’s footsteps stopped.

"Who is going to tell her family that she’s dead?"

"her body wasn’t found."

Vivian clenched her fist.

As long as nobody traces it back to me...

She slowly relaxed her hand.

If heaven falls, that’s not my business.

Then another commander spoke.

"If Commander Caelan had sent his elite soldiers with us, we wouldn’t have lost those recruits!"

"He’s selfish!"

"He only thinks about himself!"

Another voice immediately shouted. "Didn’t Caelan warn all of you?!"

Silence.

"You believed you were older and obviously wiser, so you made your own decision!"

The commander slammed his fist against the table. "Now that it went wrong, don’t blame him!"

Then...A familiar voice rang through the tent. "Since all of you are smarter than me..."

The entire room fell silent.

Vivian’s heart skipped a beat, his voice was domineering and commanding.

"Since no one listened to me," Caelan continued coldly, "you can all make your own decisions."

His voice was calm, but there was something terrifying beneath it.

"Just make sure my soldiers don’t get hurt because of your decisions."

A pause.

"Otherwise..."

His voice dropped. "We wouldn’t wait for the transmigrators. I will personally pull this entire base down. "

Silence. Absolute silence.

Vivian swallowed.

Wow.

She slowly moved closer. She pressed her ear against the side of the tent.

Why can’t I hear them anymore?

She leaned closer.A little more.

Then..The tent flap suddenly opened.

"Ah!"

Vivian’s forehead slammed straight into something hard.

"Ouch!"

She stumbled backward and rubbed her forehead.Then she looked up.

Her eyes widened.

Caelan. He stood directly in front of her.

His brows were drawn together. There was no smile on his face.

His usually composed appearance looked exhausted.

Vivian instinctively took another step backward.

Caelan stared at her. For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Vivian suddenly blurted, "Are you okay?"

She immediately covered her mouth.

Her eyes widened.

What did I just say?!

I never said that!

That must be the other Vivian!

Caelan’s tense expression softened. He let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Then he reached out and placed his hand gently on top of her cap.

"As long as you’re okay..."

His voice was low. "...I’m okay too."

Vivian’s cheeks instantly turned red.

Her heart began pounding.

What does he mean? Is he.using words to seduce me?!

She immediately turned around. "I have to go!"

And she ran.

Vivian hid behind a nearby tent.

She pressed a hand against her chest, breathing heavily.

"That wasn’t me."

She shook her head.

"I never said that!"

Beeny’s tiny voice came from her consciousness. "It’s you, Vivian."

"No!"

"You also like him."

"No, I don’t!"

Vivian covered her ears. "That’s not me!"

Beeny giggled.

"Your face is red."

"Be quiet!" Then she snorted, touching her nose.."It’s normal for another soldier to care for another soldier’s wellbeing."

Before Beeny could argue further, Vivian saw Vincent walking out of the commander’s tent.

Her expression changed.

Sir.

She immediately followed him.

Vincent walked toward his own tent without noticing her behind him.

Vivian waited until he entered. Then she quickly slipped inside.

Vincent turned around..His eyes widened.."Why are you back so early?"

Vivian shrugged."Nothing."

"Nothing?"

Vincent stared at her. "What do you mean, nothing? You don’t take your mission seriously."

Vivian didn’t answer..She simply sat down.

Her eyes landed on an apple sitting on the table.

She picked it up. Crunch!

Vincent’s eyebrow twitched. "Do you know how expensive that apple is?"

Vivian paused mid-chew.

Vincent sighed. "Selling three Foxes like you wouldn’t even be enough to buy one."

Vivian slowly lowered the apple. "What does that mean?"

Vincent waved his hand. "Forget it."

He sat down. Then he looked at her. "You really don’t like the mission, do you?"

Vivian continued eating.

"Is Vega not enough to catch your attention?"

Vivian nearly choked. She swallowed and glared at him. "I am here to study, not to catch males."

Vincent stared at her for a moment before sighing.

"Then put on a good attitude and continue the mission."

Vivian frowned. "A good attitude?"

"Yes. Show some cooperation." He sighed again. "I’ll increase your rank once the mission is over."

Vivian eyed him suspiciously. "Why should.I.trust your words?.You have no sincerity at all."

Vincent’s eyes twitched. "You brat..."

Vivian placed the half-eaten apple down.."Then just tell me the real reason you want me there so badly."

Vincent’s expression changed. For once, he didn’t argue.

He stood. Walked to the entrance.

Then raised his hand. A faint wave of spiritual energy spread through the tent.

A transparent barrier formed around them.

Vivian’s eyes widened.

"No one outside can hear us now."

Vincent turned toward her. His expression was unusually serious. "Vivian..."

She straightened.

"Vega is suicidal."

Vivian froze, her hands clenched to the side.

Vincent continued quietly. "Last month, he took suicidal pills."

Her expression changed completely.

"He nearly died."

Silence filled the tent. Vincent looked directly into her eyes. "And that’s the real reason I need you around him."